Show ContentsLenke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Lenke family

The surname Lenke was first found in Worcestershire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held estates in that shire.

Early History of the Lenke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lenke research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1043, 1154, 1352, 1455, 1486, 1487, 1510, 1566 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Lenke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lenke Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Lenke include Lench, Lench, Lenk, Lenke, Lenky, Lenchy and others.

Early Notables of the Lenke family

More information is included under the topic Early Lenke Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Lenke migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Lenke or a variant listed above:

Lenke Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Fredrick Lenke, who arrived in Kansas in 1873
Lenke Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Catherine Margaret Lenke, who settled in Illinois in 1947


Houseofnames.com on Facebook